VICTORIA – It's better late than never as the University of Victoria Vikes women's basketball team peaked at home beating the UBC Thunderbirds 69-57 on Jan. 30 in Victoria's CARSA Performance Gym. The back-to-back victories lift the Vikes to a 7-9 record ahead of the now 6-10 T-Birds and ultimately offers some security for a post-season berth.
 
BOX SCORE
 
Veterans Nicole Karstein and Jenna Bugiardini led the Vikes for the second-straight night. Karstein finished with 20 points and nine rebounds, while Bugiardini logged the game's only double-double with 19 points and 11 rebounds. Amira Giannattasio finished with nine points, while the home side had a strong team performance with bench players Brittani Yee, Katie Langdon and Marissa Dheensaw contributing well in the minutes they played.
 
"It's fitting that Kathy is here because we talk a lot and I look to her for advice," said Vikes women's basketball head coach Dani Sinclair of former Vikes coach Kathy Shields who was present for tonight's victory. "Her message to me was to enjoy it and that became our message to the players. In the end it's just a game and you have an opportunity to play at home against a rivalry team."
 
UBC had a 17-point performance from veteran Diana Lee who was three-for-five from distance, while fourth-year transfer Kara Spotton had 16 points in 32 minutes played. Guard Cherub Lum added 10 points and seven rebounds for the Thunderbirds who were held to a shooting percentage of 37 from the field.
 
The opening quarter started in favour of the visitors as third year Lum put up six points for the T-Birds on their opening 11-4 run. Bugiardini was the response for the Vikes as the five-foot-eleven forward made good on an and-one play to get the Vikes back on the score board. Rookie Jessica Hanson was the only other UBC player to score after that point as the home team were able to play a lot of catch up. Some good inside play from rookie Dheensaw helped power the Vikes to trail just 17-16 entering the second.
 
Karstein put in a quick lay up on the Vikes' first possession of the second quarter giving her team their first lead of the game after trailing by as much as eight in the first frame. Four-straight free throws from Bugiardini and Karstein lifted the Vikes up 22-17, while fourth year Spotton responded for the T-Birds with a bucket and two from the line to bring the game within one. The second quarter saw both teams go to the line several times as the score continued to flip flop. Spotton contributed 12 points for UBC, while Vikes Langdon and Paige Thomson came off the bench to contribute for the Vikes who led 38-31 entering half time.
 
Four points from Lee and a three from Adrienne Parker got UBC the start they needed on a 10-1 run. As seniors do Bugiardini responded well for the Vikes sinking her second and-one play of the night as the home side grabbed a 44-41 lead. Back-to-back plays from Karstein advanced the Vikes' lead but UBC continued to fight back with some good layups from T-Birds Andrea Strujic and Hanson. Although quiet in the first half last year's Canada West Rookie of the Year Giannattasio put up a huge three, while another layup from Karstein put the Vikes up 54-47, which stood entering the final quarter.
 
The Vikes continued to hold their lead in the final stretch but UBC's Lee dealt a three-point stinger to cut Victoria's lead to six points, 58-52, with six minutes left to go. The Vikes responded well as a long two from each of Kristy Gallagher and Giannattasio lifted the Vikes into a double-digit lead for the first time in the game, up 62-52 with under four minutes to play. Both teams traded threes as Gallagher nailed one from beyond the arc on a fast break, while Lee responded immediately on the next possession for UBC to cut the Vikes' lead to 65-67.
 
UBC were unable to complete the comeback as the Vikes powered their way to a 69-57 victory to grab their second-straight win and improve to fifth in the Pioneer Division of the Canada West standings. The Vikes head on the road next weekend, Jan. 5-6, playing the Regina Cougars, while UBC will rest up over a bye weekend.
 
"Character often comes out when your back is against the wall and our character came out especially in our veteran players over the last couple of nights," added Sinclair about the successful weekend.
 
SCORING BY QUARTER
UBC: 17-14-16-10 : 57
UVIC: 16-22-16-15 : 69
 
SCORING LEADERS
UBC: Diana Lee (17), Kara Spotton (16), Cherub Lum (10)
UVIC: Nicole Karstein (20), Jenna Bugiardini (17), Amira Giannattasio (9)